Fluid measuring and dispensing means for washing machines



May 15, 1934- w. B. HufrcHlNGs y 1,958,541

FLUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING MEANSFOR WASHING MACHINES ATTORNEY May 15, 1934. w. B. Hu'rcHlNGs FLUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed April` 20, 1931 4 She J(.s-Slfleel: 2

Il Il INVENTCR .M

lA'rToRlma-Y May 15,y 1934. wl B. HuTcHlNGs 1,958,541

FLUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed April 2051931 4 sheets-shew 4 INVENTOR ZIM@ ATTORNEYS,

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Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID MEASURIG AND DI SPENSING MEANS FOR, WASHING MACHINES Application April'20, 1931, Serial No. 531,296 5 claims. (ci. 4ss-18) This invention relates to washing machines, and has for its object a particularly simple and efficient means for supplying different washing agents to the machine and accurately measuring the same in accordance with a predetermined washing formula, also means whereby the different agents, when being delivered to the machine are visible to the operator, and further, means by which the receptacle or conduits, through which the chemical agents are delivered to the machine, are flushed out after, or before eachoperation.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of one of the measi uring and dispensing devices, the same being shown as inserted in a vat containing the washing agent, the washing machine also being shown in end elevation with the receptacle, or bucket, for receiving the washing agent shown in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional Aview of parts shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a formula sheet used in theftimer, the contacts being also shown.

Figure 5 is a plan view of another form of agent dispensing chamber.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6, Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, partly diagrammatic, view of the timer for controlling the various operations of the machine. In washing clothes in commercial laundries, the operations vary somewhat, in accordance with the character and the weight of the load, the materials used, and also to some extent to the fancies of lthe washman. The following is illustrative only of a washing operation:

First, the washer is filled to a predetermined level with cold water, that is, the valve in the cold water pipe is opened for a predetermined time, dependent uponthe pressure and volume of the water, and the clothes subjectedl to a cold water operation, say for ten minutes; then the dump valve of the machine is opened; thereafter the'valve in the hot water pipe opened for a predeterminedtime permitting the washer to be filled to a predetermined level, and soap added and the load subjected to a suds operation, say for ten minutes. During the hot water operation, a

valve in the steam pipe may be opened for a predetermined period, permitting steam to enter the washer y during the suds operation. .'I'hen, -the drain valve again is opened; thereafter the hot water valve again opened for a predetermined time and also the soap supply valve and the steam valve is opened for one or two short intervals and the clothes subjected to hot water and steam or ten minutes. The dump valve is then again opened and thereafter, the hot water valve again opened for a predetermined time and the clothes subjected to a third hot water operation for a shorter interval of say ve minutes. During the flrstand second of the hot water operations, a

'predeterminedamount of soap is delivered to the washer. After the second hot steaming and soaping or sudsing operation, the drain valve is'i'again opened and thereafter the hot water valve opened for a predetermined time, and during the third hot water operation without soap and steam, a bleaching agent is delivered to the washer. The clothes are subjected to the bleaching operation for a short period of say five minutes whereupon, the dump valve is again opened and then the clothes submitted to several hot water rinsing operations, at the end of which the dump valve is opened. During the last hot water rinsing, a predetermined amount of souring agent is supplied to the machine.' During each of the preceding hot water operations in the machine, the conduits, through which the soap and bleach is supplied to the washer, are iiushed out. In fact, these conduits are ushed out during each hot and cold water operation, although soap and bleaching fiuids can be supplied to them, or mixed without harmful effects, but souring agents should not be mixed with the soap or bleach.' Therefore, provision is made for flushing out the conduits, which deliver the agents into the machine so that the sour will be supplied without mixing with other agents, as soap and bleach. After the souring operation, the drain valve is operated; in fact thedrain valve is operated after each operation to which the clothes are subjected. Then, the cold water valve is opened and while the cold water is running, the receptacle or conduit which communicates with the machine to deliver washing ingredients thereto are flushed out and does not affect the blueing operation, althoughthe blueing does affect the Y souring operation. Therefore, during the last cold water rinse when blueing is added, it is not necessary to ush outv the agent delivering conduit after the souring operation preceding the last, or blueing operation.

'This machine comprises/generally, means formeasuring and supplying the different washing agents to the machine, and in such a manner that the agents are visible to the operator, while passing to the machine, so that he can see exactly what and, if he desires, how much of the agent is being supplied.

I have here shown my invention as applied to a commercial washing machine, the operations of which are automatically controlled by a timer.

'I'he washing machine here illustrated, is of the cylinder type including a cylindrical casing 1 having a drum or clothes receptacle therein which rotates a predetermined number of times in one direction, and then a predetermined number of times in the opposite direction. 'I'he water and agents are fed into the cylinder. As the construction and operation of a washingl machine of this type is Well known and old, further description is thoughtY to be unnecessary.

2 and 3 designate hot and cold water pipes connected to a suitable source of supply of hot and cold water, these discharging into the cylinder 1 through a conduit 3a common to both. The conduits are vvalve 4controlled; and as'before stated, the valves are preferably automatically controlled by a timer.

4 and 5 designate the hot and cold water valves, which may be of any suitable construction, these valves being operable automatically by any suitable means. They are preferably operated by fluid pressure, as compressed air.

6 designates generally, air pipes which communicate with cylinders 7 having pistons therein, one of these parts, the cylinder, or the piston, being movable, and the other stationary, the movable part being connected to a valve to operate it.

8, 9, 10 and 11 designate supply pipes for different washing agents, as soap, bleach, sour and blueing these being connected to sources of supply, which will hereinafter be described. These communicating through conduit 16 and manifold or header 16 with the washer cylinder 1. In Figure 2, the pipe 16 is shown as discharging directly into the washer cylinder In order that the vmaterials 'owing through the pipes 8, 9, 10 and l1 may be visible to the operator, these pipes discharge into a receptacle 17, which delivers into the conduit 16, the receptacle 17 being here shown as open at its top, or in the form of a bucket with the conduit 16 leading from the bottom thereof. For the purpose of flushing yout the receptacle 17, the conduit 16, and the header 16, means is provided for. passing hot and cold water through the receptacle and the conduit 16, this being accomplishedprefning. The by-pass 18', as seen in Figure 3, opens into the hot and cold water pipe 38L and has a deilector 20 therein. The receptacle or bucket 17 is also preferably calibrated in order that the operator may, if he desires, measurevthe amount of agent to: be delivered by closing the by-pass \18 and the conduit 16, although in this embodiment of my invention, the agents vare automatically measured; nevertheless the calibrations are useful in that they give the operator a chance to estimate or check up, if he is in doubt as to the amount that should be delivered, or as to the amount being delivered.

The means for measuring and dispensing the various agents, as soap, bleach, sour and blueing, comprises vats 21, 22, 23 and 24, one for each agent, and a chamber 25 insertable or submersible in each vat, there being one chamber for each vat, and each chamber having an inlet 26 opening into the vat, and an outlet pipe 27 leading to the pipe 8, 9, 10 or 1l, and pressure means for forcing the fluid or agent out of the chamber through the out-let 27. 'Ihe pressure means is preferably compressed air supplied through a suitable pipe as 28, having a valve 29 therein, which is usually operated by the timer. vEach chamber also has an air vent, or breather pipe 29a for preventing it from becoming air bound, this vent or breather pipe being always open, and having a regulating valve 30 therein. The inlet 26 is, in Figure 2, shown as provided with a check valve 31 therein for preventing back ow from the chamber 25 into the vat 21, 22, 23 or 24.

In the form shown in Figure 2, the' chambery 25 is a cylinder and the upper end thereof is above the level of the material in the vat 21, 22, 23 or 24, and the outlet pipe 27 extends to near the bottom of the cylinder. However, as seen in Figures 5 and 6, the chamber 32, corresponding to the cylinder 25, may be shallow and entirely submerged in and lie on the bottom of the vat with the outlet pipe 33, air supply pipe 34 and air breather pipe 35 extending therefrom up through the body of the material in the vat.

In the form shown in Figures 5 and 6, the chamber is shown as semi-circular in form.

In the form shown in Figure 2, there is an air space in the cylinder 25 above the level of the liquid and in operation, when the compressed air ilows through the pipe 28, the liquid is forced out of the cylinder through the outlet pipe 27 and delivered into the receptacle or bucket 17, and y when the air pressure isdiscontinued, the liquid material ilows from the vat through the check valve 31 and the inlet 26 and lls into the chamber 25 until it assumes the level of the liquid in the vata;

While the'air pressure is being applied, some of the air leaks out through the vent pipe, but the leakage is not suiiicient to materially reduce the air pressure in the chamber,v 25. Also, instead ofan inlet 26 with the check valve, a small open inlet 37, Figure 6, may be provided, and when so provided, some of the liquid in the chamber 25 will be forced out back into the vat, but the leakage at this point is not suiiicient to materially affect the flow of liquid through the outlet'pipe 27 to the receptacle or bucket 17.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pipes 33, 34 ll to the level of the liquid in the vat, and when the air is admitted to pipe 33, the pressure is I the hot and cold water valves 4, 5, the dump valve applied tothe column of material in the pipe 33. In Figures 5 and 6, the inlet 37 is shown as small and unprovided with a check valve, and the breather pipe branches fromv the air inlet pipe 34. It is formed with a small orifice. When the control valve for the pipe 34 is open, some of the air leaks out through the pipe 35, and' when the, air control valve closes and the liquid is filling into chamber 32 and up into the pipe 34, air leaks out through the pipe 35 and prevents the chamber 32 from becoming air bound.

The construction of the timer for controlling of the washer and the valves 29 for the air pipe 28, forms no part of this invention, but forms the subject matter of my application, Sr. No. 494,176, led November 7, 1930. It consists generally of a turn table 40 rotating at a. predetermined speed, a formula sheet 41 on the turn table, a plurality of contacts 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 controlling different circuits, the contacts coacting with the turn table through slots 53 in the formula sheet, Figure 4, to close the various' circuits which control the operation of the various valves. Also, the timer includes members as push buttons 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 and 64, which permit the closing of the various circuits around the contacts 42 to 52 respectively, independently of the timer and thus operate the various valves independently of the timer. These push buttons are also for the purpose of permitting the operator to lay out a formula onA a blank formula sheet while performing the washing operations by operating the valves by means of the push buttons. This feature forms no part of this invention, but is the subject matter of my application previously referred to.

In Figure 4, a formula sheet is. shown for a particular operation, and the concentric pathsv 65 to 75 inclusive designate the paths of the contacts 42 to 52, while the turn table and formula sheet are rotating. Two of the paths 69, 74 are idle in the formula illustrated, and may be used for any additional operations the operator may need. The path 75 for the contact 52 operates a bell or alarm at the end of the washing cycle. The paths 65 to 73 respectively are paths for the contacts controlling the cold water valve, hot water valve, steam valve, dumping valve, an extra operation, which the washman in some cases may deem necessary, and the valves for controlling the flow of air to the chambers for the blueing, the sour, the bleach and the soap agents.

In operation, asthe turn table rotates, the

'contact 42 enters a slot 76 of predetermined length in the path 65 and closes acircuit which controls the opening of an air valve, which permits the ow of air to the cylinder 7 which opens the valve 4 in the cold water pipe 2, permitting cold water to enter the washer for a predetermined length of time, depending on the length of the slot 76. When the contact 42 reaches the end of the slot 76,' the air exhausts from the cylinder 7- of the valve 4, permitting the valve to close. After a predetermined time, the slot 77 of the path 68 comes in line with its contact 45 opening the dump or drain valve of the washer'for a .predetermined period, dumping part or all of the cold water from the washing cylinder 1, depending on the length of the slot 77. Thereafter, the contact 43 enters the slot 78 of the path 66 opening the hot water valve 5 for a predetermined period determined by the length of the slot 78 and during this hot water operation, the contact 50 enters the 3 slot 79 in the path 73 which controls the flow of air to the chamber 25 in the soap vat 21, thus letting a predetermined amount of soap into the cylinder through the soap pipe 8, yreceptacle 17, pipe 16, and header 16. During all times that hot and cold Water are free to flow, a part of the hot and cold water passes through the pipe 18, into the receptacle 17, thence to the washer, flushing out the receptacle 17, pipe 16and header 16, and mixing with any agents that may be then flowing into the receptacle. There are then additional hot water, steaming, sudsing or soaping operations, and then several hot water and dumping operations in the flrst of which, the air is permitted to pass to the chamber 25 in the bleach containing vat so that thebleaohing agent flows therefrom to the receptacle 17 and thence, to thewashing cylinder. After the bleaching operation, there are a plurality of hot water rinsing, steaming operations, and then a souring agent is added. and after the souringoperation, lthe washer is drained and cold rinsing and blueing operations ilnish the process. At the end of the washing cycle, a bell controlled by contact 52 in the path 75 is rung. The contacts 42 to 52 control these various operations, as will be apparent from Figure 4.

Any other formula may be used to suit the conditions, orthe washman may control the valves and the washing operations by means of the push buttons 54 to '64 and lay out a formula sheet from a blank formula sheet while doing so.

If it is desired to measure or determine by` measurement, the exact amount of washing fluid delivered, the by-pass 18 may be closed by closing the valve 80 therein, and also the discharge pipe 16 closed by means of the valve 81, and then the operator can determine by means of the calibrations in the bucket, -or receptacle 17, the quantity of' any washing agent being delivered and having once determined this, he can cut the slot the proper size on the blank formula sheet. 'I'his amount is determined for all future times for loads requiring the same formula.

'I'his invention is particularly advantageous in that the measuring and dispensing device for the different fluids can be inserted or dropped in tanks or vats in which the iluid is contained in bulk and further, in that the feeding of the various agents is visible to the operator at all times, and also the flow of the hot and cold water is visible to the operator, and although this invention is particularly desirable in timer controlled washers, nevertheless, it will be understood that I do not limit my invention to timer controlled washers.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a vessel for a liquid, of a vat for a liquid agent to be supplied to said vessel; and a device for measuring and dispensing the agent comprising a chamber insertable in the vat and having an inlet into the vat and an outlet to the vessel, and means for applying pressure to the agent in the chamber.

2. The combination with a vessel for a liquid, o f a vat for a liquid agent to be supplied to said vessel and a measuring and dispensing device for said agent comprising a chamber linsertable into the vat and an inlet to the vat and an -outlet into the chamber and timed means for 'applying a predetermined air pressure for a predetermined time to the agent in the chamber.

' 3. The combination with a vessel for receiving a liquid, of a vat having an agent to be supplied to the vessel and a measuring and dispensingdesubmerged in the contents thereof and having discharge pipes communicating with the vessel andvmeans `for selectively operating'themeas- Y uring and dispensing means.

5. The combination with a vessel` for receiving a liquid, of containers for liquid agents located remote from the vessel, measuring and dispensing means located in each of the containers andsubmerged in the contents thereof and having discharge pipes communicating with the\vess`e1 and a timer for controlling the operation of the measuring and dispensing means. v

WALTER B. HUTCHINGS. 

